Friday, September 23, 2016

Are You Election Ready?

Get ready 'cause here I come
Get ready 'cause here I come
Get ready~The Temptations, "Get Ready"With
about six weeks until the next election and in-person absentee voting
beginning today, I wanted to share some information that may be useful
this election cycle, including information about registering to vote and
voting absentee.

Please be aware that the deadline to register to vote in this year's election is Tuesday, October 17th.

On Tuesday, November 8th, the polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.At the Virginia State Board of Elections website,
you can check your registration status and confirm your polling place.
In addition, voter ID laws are in effect. The list of accepted forms of
ID and other related information can be found here.

For Fairfax County, there are referenda involving bonds for our parks, human services, and transportation. In addition, you will also be able to vote on a Meals Tax,
which would allow Fairfax County to enact a tax rate of up to 4%. If
passed, the additional estimated revenue is $99 million per year. 70% of
this would be earmarked for FCPS and the remaining 30% would go to
other County programs and services. I support the meals tax.

Two constitutional amendments
will be on ballots all over the state. One amendment attempts to codify
the Right to Work provision, which I am against. The second one gives
localities the option to exempt the surviving spouse of any
law-enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or
emergency medical services personnel who is killed in the line of duty
from real property taxes. I support this amendment.

Election Day Tips

Polls officially close at 7:00 p.m., but everyone waiting in line at that time must be given the opportunity to cast their ballots.

If
the voting equipment malfunctions at your polling place, inform the
election officials immediately. If the equipment cannot be repaired in a timely manner, you may then request an emergency paper ballot.

If
you are elderly or disabled, or otherwise unable to enter the polling
location without physical assistance, curbside voting will be made
available to you at your assigned polling place.

If
you previously requested and received an absentee ballot, but prefer to
cast your vote in person on Election Day, be sure to return the
unopened ballot to either the local Electoral Board or to the General
Registrar before Election Day, or to the election official at your
polling place. This will enable you to cast a regular ballot on
Election Day.